Lawmakers Asked to Consider Limits on TOPS Program

Published 02/08 2014 12:23PM

Updated 02/08 2014 12:24PM

BATON ROUGE, La. (WDSU) — The cost of Louisiana's free college tuition program, called TOPS, is soaring to $235 million nyear.

State lawmakers are being asked to consider whether it's time to put the brakes on the state's generosity to college students - or at least some limitations.Study groups have repeatedly suggested changes to TOPS. But the proposals run into strong opposition because the program is popular among Louisiana parents.

Republican Sen. Dan "Blade" Morrish, of Jennings, is asking lawmakers to limit increases in the growth of the program, saying that without cost controls, TOPS might become too expensive for the state to maintain.

He'll make his pitch to lawmakers in the legislative session that begins March 10.

The proposal is a long-shot at best, facing opposition from Gov. Bobby Jindal and parents.

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